Does god exist? The answer is not complicated. There is no evidence

It is not necessary to debate many aspects of religion to answer the ultimate question, "Does god exist?" Some religions are based on the idea that their scriptures are the revelation of a specific god, but unless it can be verified that an actual god was involved in scripture creation, the respective religion is solely a human invention. To reduce the issue one step further, ask what accounts or stories in scripture could not have been known or created by people. Asking these fundamental questions simplifies what is normally an endless complex debate.

There are only two types of information in religious scripture that could indicate a creator god was the scripture source. This would be information that could not be obtained solely by humans at the time the original scriptures were written. All other accounts, facts, and stories are things people are capable of creating. The two types of information that only a god could have revealed are:

Specific detailed information about prehistoric earth and life that is now confirmed by geology and paleontology. If the original scriptures had this Information, then that would be strong evidence that it came from an all-knowing creator that knew prehistoric conditions.
Accurate detailed prophecies about current, or historical events that are well documented. If these predictions were in original scripture versions, they would be evidence that a god revealed them to the authors. Specific dates, places, and names are the necessary detail.

Scripture verse that does not qualify as verification:

Claims of prophecies and scientific facts in scripture that don't have enough detail to permit verification. Broad general statements are not useful.
Verse that results in long debates about who said what and when. If the message is not clear and simple it is not reliable.
Where creative interpretation is necessary to match the prophecy with any current event or knowledge. Many interpretations invalidate a prophecy or miracle account.
An account of prophecy fulfillment written after the event occurred is not a prophecy.
A prophecy date that has not arrived (future dated) is not a valid prophecy.
Simple testimony about miracles are not evidence of divine revelation because people are capable of creating stories of miracles.
Scripture verse that supports other verse is not verification.
Accounts of miracles that are not corroborated by written history from objective eye witnesses who were not involved in the religion.
A prophecy predicting some action by a person or culture is a self-fulfilling prophecies because the actions of believers are influenced by the prophecy. These events are caused or influenced by no force other than the participants belief.

If nothing in the scripture of a religion is the revelation of a god, then all other arguments for existence of god are not arguments for that religion's god. These non-scripture arguments include first cause, cosmological, ontological, etc. These other arguments are for the existence of a generic god. They may make interesting philosophical discussions, but do not point to the specific god of any religion. For example: Even if there was a valid and true first cause argument for existence of a god, it would not point to the Christian or Muslim god. Only the scriptures of those religions identify a specific god. Why would a Christian or Muslim use anything but scripture in a debate or discussion?

This reduces the complex debate to a single issue. Is there concrete evidence that any scripture is the revelation of a god? If not, then do we have anything but philosophical arguments for the existence of a generic god?

MrWhy